Volunteers say they'll search for missing Annapolis man

Photo courtesy Annapolis Police

Annapolis Police say Robert Allan Stewart, 36, was reported missing 6:30 p.m. Dec. 6 after he didn't show up for work at Mills Fine Wine & Spirits on Main Street in downtown Annapolis. He was last seen at about 1 a.m. that morning, police said.

Annapolis Police say Robert Allan Stewart, 36, was reported missing 6:30 p.m. Dec. 6 after he didn't show up for work at Mills Fine Wine & Spirits on Main Street in downtown Annapolis. He was last seen at about 1 a.m. that morning, police said. (Photo courtesy Annapolis Police)

Pamela Wood, The Baltimore Sun

Police are investigating the disappearance of an Annapolis man who hasn't been seen since early Friday morning, and friends say they'll form a search party and canvass the downtown area Wednesday night.

Robert Allan Stewart, 36, was reported missing 6:30 p.m. Dec. 6 after he didn't show up for work at Mills Fine Wine & Spirits on Main Street in downtown Annapolis, according to Annapolis police. He was last seen at about 1 a.m. that morning, police said.

Friends say they'll meet at 8 p.m. Wednesday in front of the store to search for Stewart, who is the store's spirits manager. The search has been organized through Facebook, and on Tuesday the wine and spirits store sent an email to customers alerting them to the police investigation and the volunteer search.

"We just want to help him get found," said Jerry Donahoe, who has co-owned Mills for a little more than a year. Stewart has worked at the store for about five or six years, he said.

While the search is not an official part of the investigation, Annapolis Police Department spokeswoman Cpl. Amy Miguez said it could help raise awareness of the case.

Donahoe said Stewart worked at the store during Thursday's Midnight Madness event, when downtown shops stay open late as part of a holiday promotion. Stewart finished his shift and left the store at about 8:30 p.m., Donahoe said.

He said Stewart never showed up for work at 9 a.m. Friday morning. Two store employees went to Stewart's house later that day and his roommates said he never came home that night. After learning that, Donahoe said he called police, and said that given the length of time since Stewart has been seen and the recent weather, he's alarmed his employee hasn't been seen or heard from.

Stewart was likely last seen out with friends in downtown Annapolis, police said.

Police consider Stewart to be a "critically missing adult." Miguez said police don't believe Stewart is the victim of a crime, but his disappearance is unusual.

"We're just concerned for his welfare," she said.

Annapolis detectives have gotten "lots and lots of phone calls" about the case but no one has heard from or seen Stewart since Friday, she said.

Stewart is 6 feet tall, weighs 200 pounds and has brown hair and green eyes. He was last seen wearing a gray fleece coat, police said. He is orginally from North Carolina and graduated from St. John's College in Annapolis.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Tom Pyles at 410-268-9000 or tnpyles@annapolis.gov.